Rotary motor



Aug. 4, 1931. H. H. HAMMEYRSTROM 1,

ROTARY MOTOR Filed Nov. '7, 1928 3 Sheets-sheaf. l

INVENTOR H. H HAMMERSTROM BY JW LZMJ ATTORNEYS v 4,- 1931. H, .H. HAMMERSTROM I 1,817,370

ROTARY MOTOR INVENTOR u. a. HAMMERSTROM ATTORNEYS Aug. 4, 1931.

1 I 3 III IIIHHI H. H. HAMMERSTROMI ROTARY uo'ron Filed Nov; 7, 192a 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 TTQBA BQ -ffiENRY HiZHAMMERQ'BROMg OF' LOS HNGELES, CALIFORNIA, Assmwomol olm nm ro Patented Ang. 4, 1931 sHAanY m-Aminmma-n-mr L'DSZLAJNGEBES; eALrFoImIA woman moron Applicationnfiled November .7} 1928. semi inc. 1,312,832.

Z'This invention'rel'ates to rotary'motors; and has for an obj ect, thefj provision "of a" novel type of motor having: aplurality of cyhna "ders carried by. one rotor, and a plurality'of 4 ri'pistons carried byanother rotor, the" pistons ".fbeing receivablewithin, and removable from I "this provides an unusually gsi nplefand eflicient' type of v alve' actuating inechanism. r p

" "'said gcyliiiders as the rotors turn.

" Many advantages "have fbeen gamed "from v this type ofmotor construction; among which liifinight'jberimenti'onedthe enhancedlease and" v I "of t which is spherical," thlis -facil itafting e pistons within theiria'ssociatd thoroughness of scavenging" the cylinders at the conclusion of 'eafchjpoWer' stroke,and also fthe: applicationiof the power derived from the power v stroketo'one ofthe' rotors adjacent the periphery thereof and'im'ore nearly tangentially of that rotor than inthe .ca'se where the j power is applied to a crankshaft v, byjnes'ms' of the conventional crank throws and eonne'cting'rod. a" Thislaseme tionedad want age re's'nlts from the fact. that the JGyIindelf I from 'Which theipower is "being derived;"is'

itself; movingin 1 a": direction*vvhichitendsj to place its axis tangent to; the pistomr'otor in 'l contradi'stinctionfiito the crankshaft type of engine wherein t11e"force' exerted j upon the piston is always in the direction of a diameter derived from" the power stroke will be delivered" tothe piston rotor 'to eflect rotation;

system.

" tons in respectthereto, to compensate for the ofthe pfath described by thecrankipin. 4 "It is "thereof; and thatflesslof'this power-"will be expended in stresses in" the frameof' the en- "gin e' "itself;

'ffAnother object is theprovision of a rotar ni'btor" of"the"generalcharacteri describe wherein "the piston rotor is, provided vvith means foriadvancingPand retarding the p s- "irreg'nlar' rateof travel; of the area of contact of "each piston .witlfits 'associatedf cylinder throughout their periodiof engagement.

A further obj ectis the provision of a rotary lvmotor having a plurality of; cylinders anarried by a'rotor'f and invvhich thdffiL is "supplied to the cylinders through an intake manifold" which is tprovide 'd in" the-hollow rim and at "least one .htiHOW S'pOkepFt-he 7 cylinder rotor.

Astillfur hier 'object'isthe provision of a rotary-meter havin anfifitakeiniinifbld as *v e'wby the arrows,

describedfandin vvhichmach 61"; t jcyli'nde'rs is provided with an;intake'valveih'aving a valve. stem adapted to be 'engag'edbyacam as the rotor turns, so .as to...unseat the valve and permit; charging the associated 'cylind'er wvith fuel. Itmay'be' readily understood that fA' stillifurther object is'the 'provisioniofi a rotaryinotor asdescrib'ed; each'- oqf the pistons sphere-,and .eacho'fwhich ringspresses outwards to maintaina tightseal'rvvith thervval ls oflits cylinder thronghout' their period of 'engagemeflt, regardless of the angu'laritybe "tween the axesbfthe cylinder andits ,pis'ton.

Another objectis, ,the provisionjof a ro'tary :motor asrdescribe' djnwhich each cylinder is provided vvithxan'findividual an; ,pl ngifor the proper ignitionof the fuel, butgin which the means for energizing all .the sparlgplngs successively, is single contact point] adapted toengage the: sparkLplngs as they move therepast, tthus simplifying the wiring and still providing; an "efiiciently operating ignition FTheinvention possesses other o'bj ects {and advantageousfeatures; some 'of' which, with 'those enumerated; will. be set forth in the following description of the inventions par- '{tic'nlar embodiment which is f illu'stratd in the drawings K accompanying and forming a part ofthespecification.

Referring to the' drawings 11 Figure 1 isa-rear: elevation. :of can-engine ,ilncorporati-ngvthe "prlnclplesr lofwmyi lnvenr -view,i,the planeof sectionbeing indicated-by the inef2-2"of Fig.- 3,-and' the direction-of viewlftheiplane (if-section being indicatedby the line" .3-3 *of Bi 2 and'gthe direction-10f L Eig.;-2 is a: vertical, transverse vsectional Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view in vertical section, of one of the pistons.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of one of the cylinders, the direction of this View being indicated by the arrow 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view showing the cylinder of Fig. 5 in side elevation. The plane of section is indicated by the line 66 of Fig. 5, and the'direction of view by the arrows.

Specifically describing the invention in its most practical form of which I am at present aware, I have provided a housing indicated in its entirety at 11 and preferably being built up of a pair of sections 12 and 13 rigidly attached together by means of bolts 14 having nuts 16 threaded thereon to clamp together flanges 17 and 18 which are provided upon the housing sections 12 and 13 respectively. Thus is provided an enclosed chamber 19 within which the operative parts of the motor are confined. Removable front portions 21 and 22 are provided for the upper and lower sections 12 and 13 respectively,

these front portions 21 and 22 being remov ably held in place by cap screws 23 or their equivalent.

A pair of shafts 26 and 27 are journalled in the housing 11, to extend across the chamber. 19, the shaft 26 being journalled in antifriction bearings 28 and 29 in the back wall of the upper housing portion 12 and the removable front wall 21 respectively, and the shaft 27 being journalled in anti-friction bearings 31 and 32 carried by the back of the lower housing portion 13 and the removable front wall 22 respectively. These antifriction bearings 28, 29, 31, and 32, are removably held in place by threaded glands 33, 34, 36, and 37 respectively.

A cylinderrotor 41 is affixed to the upper shaft 26. This cylinder rotor 41 comprises a rim 42, which is hollow, having an annular chamber 43 extending throughout the length thereof. This hollow rim 42 is rigid with the hub 44, being connected thereto by a plurality of spokes 46, at least one of which is hollow. Preferably however, all the spokes 46 are hollow, with their bores in communication with the annular chamber 43. These bores are also in communication with a borev 47 formed in one end 48 of the shaft 26. This end 48 is received within av stuffing-box 49,

. carried by a. bracket 51 which is rigid with the front wall 21. A gland nut 52, threaded the hole 54, by means of cap screws 57 or their equivalent.

A plurality of cylinders 61, are disposed upon the rim 42 extending radially outwards therefrom. The outer ends of these cylinders 61, are open, as clearly shown upon Fig. 3, whereas the inner ends are closed by an integral partition 62, which serves to separate the annular chamber 43 or intake manifold from all of the cylinders 61. Oh-

servation of Fig.3 Will reveal that the spokes 46 are disposed at one side of the chamber 43,leaving an inner annular partition 63 of sufficient extent to provide a valve guide 64 within which the stem 66 of a valve 67, is slidably disposed. One of these valves is associated with each cylinder 61, and all of the valves 67 are disposed with their stems 66 extending radially inwards from the inner end of the associated cylinder, and with the valve proper, normally closing a port 68 in the partition 62. Each of these ports 68 establishes communication between the an nular intake manifold 43 and one of the cylinders 61, when theassociated valve 67 has been lifted from its seat. A coil spring 69 is under compression between the annular partition 63 and another annular partition 71 carriedby the spokes 46. The stem 66 of each valve 67, extends through this latter partition 71 also, so that a roller 72, journalled upon the inner end of each valve stem 66, may at one point in the rotation of the rotor 41, engage the inclined surface 73 of a cam 74. This cam 74 is supported upon a shield 76 rigid with the after wall of the upper housing section 12, which also serves to exclude dust from the otherwise exposed portions of the valve stems and rollers. The after end 77 of the cam 74 is also inclined, though not as gently as the leading edge 73, the purpose being to permit the relatively gentle seating of the valves 67 as the rollers 72 pass from the cam 74. It'is believed apparent from the above described construction, that as the rotor 46 turns, each of the rollers 72, comes against the cam 74, and that as the roller passes over the inclined surface 73, the valve 67 is raised from its seat against the action of the spring 69, opening the port 68,,permitting influx of fuel to the associated cylinder 61. This flow of fuel from the manifold 43 into the cylinders 61, is increased, if not entirely effected by the centrifugal 'fOFi'C developed as a result of the massiv 27,.- else, pre e a e i" n heext riar of: the housing 11,; with I the result, that both shatts 26 27- are rotated. at the same rate,; but in opposite-directions,

I A second-rotor,- 86 is.- rigidly; attachedto the; shaft 2'? inside: the housing/11.. This rotor 86 include a, hub. 87., provided with; a plurality of spokesl88, preferablyconnectcd at .th'eir outerends byJ aninteg-nal: rings An-. other ring, 89- of similar dimensions, isrctained in spaced relationship therewith. by, a pluralitypfistay bolts. 91, haning nuts 92 upon each-end. s s 1 A, piston rod 93; is .mounted fionpiyotal 11103581118111? upon: eachofthe stay bolts. 91 and a piston 9& isrigid and preierablyin: tegral. Witli the outer-end of. each. of: the rods 1 93. The pistcns 94'correspond in num ber tothe cylinders 615 and are. 0t such 'di; mensions. that each ot. the pistons: 94- is receivable Withinone of the cylinders 61, and removable theretrom as the two rotors turn. To facilitate entrance of the pistons into thein respective cylinders, they; airespherical in shape, preferablyflattened; upon their l ter-sidesas at. 96.. This flattened face 95 isin reality, the top-ct aplug 9.7 which is threaded into. the body 98.- of each piston 94- to .releasably. retain inplace, a; piston ring 99. Each ring 99 is in the form of a fnustuinof a sphene, as clearly shown upon Fig. 1; and an upstanding bead: L01 is provided upon-a each edge-ct each ring 99.- Thesefbead's' 1.01 are; receivable Within-grooves 102 in, the adjacent ring lands in-the body of; the piss ton, and in the topflange; 103 of each of: the ring-retaining plugs 97;. Preferably the. rings; 99, are resilient, being split angula-rly as indicated at 1041 upon Fig. 2, so as; to en: able the: rings; to press outwards and; estab lish=a tight seal with the walls-ot the cylinder. throughout the period. that the, pistonI is con; tainedwithin thecylind'er, regardless of what degree ot-ang ilarity obtains between the: axis ofthe -cylinder" and that;v of the pistonqriod 93; it; being understood-that the parts are so proportioned that a suitable clearance is established between each; ring 99'- and its: respective ring -land.-, fi'lld'JfBl SQ between each ring and the-flange 10.3-.= ot the associated plug-97E. In this manner the nings 99 are semounted; thatthcyfloatwithinthein, respectivegroovcs which are defined. by the ringlands and flanges 1:03. 4 An arm 1061's vigil with: anden'tendslatenally, or angularl-y, from each piston rod 98-;- A roller 107 lSIjOllI'llEl'llBd' upon: the-innenend; of eachof the arms; 1.06 and coil springs 108 under tension between the arms 106' and the ring- 89,,ur'ge the rollers 107 against. the taco 109 of a continuous cam. 1111. 'I-Thiscam 1 11* is supported upon a shield}112nigidwiththe atten wall oiithelowenhousingsection m and is .pne d h an inden ation 11.2% an a: rais d: p n es 41. as sho use F n ,2.-

associated? piston isjustleauing; its associated yli e 6 result g. n a slig t. re ardat on Of that pistoniin respect to the roton; Iin ef;

eet th t e a ge v loci y of each of the; pistons 9.4; is less than would be the case if the piston rods; 93were rigidly attachedto the rotor 86. This provision has-been made because 01? the! fact that the; radial distance immithecenterof h otonlfi'totheanea 0i contacti of a piston 94;, with itsj; cylinder, is

sabstantiallywcenstant [throughout the period ofi t i gagement, whereas the adial-dis ame area of contact/1,. varies: throughoutr the same period. Because of this phenomenon, the. rate ravel i hisiareaiof-contact isno't constantthroughout the period offen gage-r meat; and-the length of angulanityofi the armslflfi, as well; as the dimensions otthe cam 1111, have been. prop rtioned to; satisfactorily compen ate forthisirreg laritate ott'raveh Means for; igniting? thejfguel; in each of the cylinders; is proyidech. Sparkplug 1164s threaded; through; the partition? 62. into each cylinder 61, and a conductor 'hlZleadingirom the insulated Contact 1218 of: the: spark.- plug, terminates in an; enlarged surface 119' atone side'ofi'tihe 86.. All oil these conductors 117 and enlarged surfaces 119, aaie fsodisposed that they are adapted to successiuelyeither e gage; or passclosely adiacentzto (a, stationary contact 121 nigidi Wlthz'iihfl remouable; front wall: 21, and; insulated theresfiroin by: suitable insulatingmaterial 122:. This COHtElGt! 1-21 is connected? by; a conductor 123-,. toia timing mechanism. 124;, of any suitable: nature: Preferably this timing mechanism isadapted to; make and break a-pniniary circuit at'just the instant that each: of the conductors 117fis passingthe stationary: contact 121, a suitable induction coil: being employed and properly connected toithe conductor 123 to. produce a high tension. current means ofwhioh aspark is formed by the associated sp ark plug- Lldwithiin the cylinder 61. Preferably the stationary contact 121 is soisituated that this spark-takes place when the cylinder and-"its associated piston. are substantially directly between the two shafts26 and 27... Any suitable means for operating the timing. mech-' anism l24j, may be employed; For eziainpl'e, a goat 12.6;carried by theshaft 27; enmeshesia. driven; gear 127 v whichis rigid with thesheft 1.28 .osfithe iminnme hanismzmi. Thisshaft 128.11 .035 beipurnalled hraeketlfiaenda socket 131 rigid with the removable front wall 22 of the lower housing section 13.

, An exhaust manifold is provided in the form of structures 1-36 and 137, preferably removably attached to the upper and lower housing sections 12 and 13 respectively. Together, these two structures 136 and 137, form a wedge-shaped protrusion upon the inside of the housing 11, and they are so proportioned that the outer ends of the cylinders 61 and the pistons 9%, pass closely adjacent the sloping walls 138 and 139, immediately after the pis tons have been withdrawn from the cylinders. Apertures 141 and 1 12 are formed in the sloping walls 138 and 139 respectively, through which exhaust gases may pass to the interior of structures 186 and 137; and any suitable exhaust pipe may be employed to conduct exhaust gases from the manifold. scavenging is effected because of the fact that each of the pistons is completely removed from the associated cylinder, and the centrifugal action will tend to throw the exhaust gases from the cylinder into the exhaust manifold. v

A plurality of apertures 146 and 147, are provided in the rear walls of the upper and lower housing sections 12 and 13 respectively, to provide ventilation of the chamber 19, both for the purpose of cooling the mechanism, and for supplying sufficient oxygen to sup port the proper combustion of the fuel within the cylinders. Any suitable power take-off may be provided upon either one or both of the two shafts 26 and 27.

It is understood that the details of the in vention as herein disclosed, are subject to alteration within the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1

1. In a rotary motor, a housing, a pair of parallel shafts ournalled therein, means coupling said shafts together for rotation at the same rate and in opposite directions, a rotor afiixed to each shaft, a plurality of cylinders carried by one rotar, a plurality of pistons carried by the other rotor, each being receivable within one of said cylinders as said rotors turn, the walls of each of said pistons being spherical in form, a resilient piston ring associated with each piston and disposed in a complementary groove therein, each of said rings being in the form of a zone of a sphere, means for supplying fuel to said cylinders, and means for igniting the fuel in each of said cylinders.

2. In a rotary motor, a housing, a pair of parallel shafts journalled therein, means coupling said shafts together for rotation at the same rate and in opposite directions, a

rotor affixed to each shaft, a plurality of cylinders carried by one rotor, a plurality of pistons carried by the other rotor, each being receivable within one of said cylinders as said rotors turn, the Walls of each ofsaid Complete 7 pistons being spherical in form, and each piston having a groove therein, ring lands defining said groove, a resilient piston ring associated with each piston and floating in the groove therein, each of said rings being in the form of a Zone of a sphere, upstanding beads on the edges of said rings receivable within grooves in the ring lands of said pistons, means for supplying fuel to said cylincers, and means for igniting the fuel in each of said cylinders.

3. In a rotary motor, a pair of substantially tangentially arranged rotors disposed for rotation in opposite directions, a plurality ofcylinders carried by one of said rotors, a plurality of pistons carried by the other rotor, each piston being receivable within one of thecylinders as the rotors turn, means for supplying fuel to said cylinders, means for igniting the fuel in each cylinder when said cylinder and its associated piston are substantially between the axes of rotation of said rotor, means inter-connecting said rotors for relative rotation at a constant rate, and means for advancing and retarding said pistons in respect to their rotor to compensate for the irregular rate of travel of the area of contact of each piston with its associated cylinder throughout the period of their engagement.

4. In a rotary motor, a pair of substantially tangentially arranged rotors disposed for rotation in opposite directions, a plurality of cylinders carried by one of said rotors, a plurality of pistons carried by the other rotor, each piston being receivable within one of the cylinders as the rotors turn, means for supplying fuel to said cylinders, means for igniting the fuel in each cylinder when said cylinder and its associated piston are substantially between the axes of rotation of said rotor, means inter-connecting said rotors for relative rotation at a constant rate, and means for compensating for the irregular rate oftravel of the area of contact of each piston with its associated cylinder throughout the period of their engagement.

5. In a rotary motor, a pair of substantially tangentially arranged rotors journalled for rotation in opposite directions, a plurality of cylinders carried by one of said rotors, a plurality of pistons carried by the other rotor, each piston being receivable in one of said cylinders as the rotors turn, a piston rod interposed between each piston and the associated rotor, said rods being pivoted to the rotor, and means for rocking the piston rods to compensate for the irregular rate of travel of the area of contact of each piston with its associated cylinder throughout the period of their engagement.

I 6. In a rotary motor,-a pair of substantial- 1y tangentially arranged rotors journalled for rotation in opposite directions, a plurality of cylinders carried by one of said rotors,

a plurality of pistons carried by the other rotor, each piston being receivable in one of said cylinders as the rotors turn, a piston rod interposed between each piston and the associated rotor, said rods being pivoted to the rotor, an arm rigid with each rod, and a stationary cam in position to be engaged by said arms during turning of said piston rotor, to rock the piston rods to compensate for the pivoted to the rotor, an arm rigid with and extending laterally from each of said rods, a roller journalled upon each of said arms, a stationary continuous cam in position to be engaged by said rollers, resilient means urging said rollers against the cam, and irregularities in said cam'adapted to rock the pistons when engaged by the rollers to compensate for the irregular rate of travel of the area of contact of each piston with its associated cylinder throughout the period of their engagement.

8. In a rotary motor, a rotor journalled for rotation, said rotor comprising a hollow spoke and an annular chamber forming a common intake manifold, a plurality of cylinders disposed about said rim, each cylinder having anintake port communicating with said manifold, a valve seating in each of said ports, a valve stem carried byveach valve and extending radially inwards from the associated cylinder, and a' stationary cam engageable by said valve stems as the rotor turns to unseat the valves and open said ports.

9. In a rotary motor, a rotor journalled for rotation, said motor comprising a hollow spoke and an annular chamber forming a common intake manifold, a plurality of cylinders disposed about said rim, each cylinder having an intake port communicating with said manifold, a valve seating in each of said ports, a valve stem carried by each valve and extending outside its cylinder, and a stationary cam engageableby said valve stems as the rotor turns to unseat the valves and open said ports.

10. In a rotary motor, a pair of rotors journalled for rotation, one of said rotors comprising a hollow rim and a hollow spoke forming an intake manifold, means supplying said manifold with fuel, a plurality of 1 cylinders disposed about said rim and ex tending radially therefrom, said cylinders be ing open at their outer ends and each having an intake port communicating with said manifold, a valve seating in each of said ports, resilient means. normally retaining said valves seated to close the port-s, a Valve stem on each valve extending radially inwards to a point inside the rim, a stationary cam engageable by said valve stems as the rotor turns to unseat valves, a plurality of pistons carried by the other rotor, each iston being receivable within one of said cy inders as the rotors turn, and means for igniting the fuel in each cylinder when said cylinder and its associated piston are substantially between the axes of rotation of said rotors.

11. In a rotary motor, apair of rotors journalled for rotation, one of said rotors comprising a hollow rim and a hollow spoke forming an intake manifold, means supplying said manifold with fuel, a plurality of cylinders disposed about said rim and extending radially therefrom, said cylinders being open at their outer ends and each having an intake port communicating with said manifold, a valve seating in each of said ports, resilient means normally retaining said valves seated to close the ports, a valve stem on each valve extending radially inwards to a point inside the rim, a stationary cam engageable by said valve stems as the rotor turns'to unseat valves, a plurality of pistons carried by the other rotor, each piston being receivable within one of said cylinders as the rotors turn, a conductor-associated with each plug and terminating at one side of the associated rotor, a stationary contact disposed substantially in the plane including the axes of rotation of both of said rotors and in position to be engaged by said plug conductors as they move therepast, and means for ener- I gizing said stationary contact. 7

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HENRY H..IIAMMERSTROM. 

